Shark Teeth Adaptations
One of the most highly adapted groups of animals on the planet is sharks and their teeth are super important to their survival. Shark teeth come in variety of shapes and sizes depending on what kind of prey the shark is adapted to hunt. Sharks normally have several rows of teeth in their mouth and, when one tooth breaks off, another moves forward to take its place. As a result, they often go through thousands of teeth in a lifetime.
In this exciting exploration, students observe a collection of shark teeth fossils carefully noting how similar and different they look from each other. After observing each tooth, they separate them into groups based on some feature (characteristic) that they think is important. Along the way, students consider how the shape of the teeth are adapted to help each group (species) of shark to survive. Finally, the size of a shark tooth can also be used to calculate the approximate size of the shark. By measuring the length of the tooth in inches and multiplying by 10, you can obtain the estimated length of the shark in feet. Cool huh.
Shark Teeth Adaptations Lesson Plan
Shark Teeth Adaptations Student Sheet
Shark Teeth Adaptations Article
While designed for 3rd grade adaptations, this lesson can be modified to work well with fossils, adaptations and/or classification, at any grade level. Just do STEM with kids.
Contributed by:
Dr. Tom Brown,
GYSTC Director of Statewide Programs
tbrown@kennesaw.edu
In this exciting exploration, students observe a collection of shark teeth fossils carefully noting how similar and different they look from each other. After observing each tooth, they separate them into groups based on some feature (characteristic) that they think is important. Along the way, students consider how the shape of the teeth are adapted to help each group (species) of shark to survive. Finally, the size of a shark tooth can also be used to calculate the approximate size of the shark. By measuring the length of the tooth in inches and multiplying by 10, you can obtain the estimated length of the shark in feet. Cool huh.
Shark Teeth Adaptations Lesson Plan
Shark Teeth Adaptations Student Sheet
Shark Teeth Adaptations Article
While designed for 3rd grade adaptations, this lesson can be modified to work well with fossils, adaptations and/or classification, at any grade level. Just do STEM with kids.
Contributed by:
Dr. Tom Brown,
GYSTC Director of Statewide Programs
tbrown@kennesaw.edu